Speakers at ‘Digital CPA’ Conference See Opportunity in Technology Disruption

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 6, 2012) – Technology is fundamentally altering the relationship between CPAs and their clients, and that creates broad new avenues of opportunity within the profession, thought leaders said at a CPA2Biz-sponsored conference on accounting services and the cloud.

Almost 400 accounting professionals are attending “Digital CPA: 2012 CPA2Biz Cloud Users Conference,” a new event sponsored by the technology subsidiary of the American Institute of CPAs. The Dec. 5-7 conference highlights best practices for adopting cloud and mobile technologies so firms can offer higher value, higher margin services for their clients.

“Digital CPA firms can do more for their clients,” said Erik Asgeirsson, president and CEO of CPA2Biz. “In addition to some obvious efficiencies, practitioners who support clients on cloud-based solutions can offer better access to data and deeper insight to guide business owners.”

The Digital CPA conference is unique in that it caters to all categories of firms, from small to large, Asgeirsson said. The event features 64 sessions over 48 hours, many led by leaders of some of the profession’s tech-savviest firms.

Another highlight of the conference is the debut of original research by Geoffrey Moore, the tech consultant and author of the business bestseller “Crossing the Chasm.” Moore looked at how the cloud is giving new life to client accounting services for firms, adding a diverse field of growth to the profession’s traditional tax and audit practices. CPA2Biz has released two mobile apps that help firms capitalize on the report’s findings.

“Digital disruption is changing the competitive landscape for businesses,” said Moore, one of the conference’s keynoters. “These trends are not going to reverse, so CPA firms must have a strategy in place to guide their clients through this transformation.”

Another keynote speaker was AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, who said digital technologies can be a game-changer for firms.

“When we talk about the firm of the future, technology will be an essential component in extending the CPA’s traditional role as trusted business advisor,” Melancon said.